Chapter 298
Chapter 298
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 298. Love Forgotten by Another Love
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"Hehehe... Hehehehe..."
I tear my gaze away from Park Ye-eun, who's grinning like an idiot at the wall-to-wall TVs and the surround sound system next to them, and look around the place.
It's a small apartment.
Only two rooms, and the interior isn't all that great either.
"Aren't you gonna move?"
"Moving's not that easy. I don't make much money."
"You work for the Management Bureau. How come you don't make much?"
What's the best perk of the Management Bureau?
The overwhelming salary.
Overwhelming enough that, judging by the money I've got now, I'll never have to worry about finances unless something crazy happens.
Of course, people tend to spend more as they earn more.
"I've only been there a short time, and right now I'm spending on better things."
"Better things? Like donations?"
Park Ye-eun clams up at my question.
"Not donations exactly, but on my friends..."
"...You're not getting scammed, are you?"
"I'm doing it because I want to."
"Don't give too much for too long. People start treating kindness like an entitlement."
Helping others is undeniably noble.
But maybe what those people really need is help that gets them on their own two feet, I thought.
"Got it."
Park Ye-eun nods.
Still, the pay is really good.
"And I'm only two months in."
"Ah."
Yeah, that makes sense.
If one paycheck made you rich, no one would stick around the Management Bureau long-term.
The salary is insanely high, but the real insanity is the annual raises based on tenure.
Put simply, your pay multiplies several times every year.
So our Team Leader...
"Next time, instead of coffee, ask for a full-course restaurant meal."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
I shake my head at Park Ye-eun's question and look at her.
"Anyway, if something comes up, tell me. Money or... money... and... don't tell me your worries."
"Why not tell my oppa my worries?"
"Hey. We're different genders, and I'm older. What good would my advice do?"
I'm not that old myself, but to Park Ye-eun, I'm some ancient adult.
"So who do you recommend?"
"...Hmm..."
Tough question.
Someone on the HR Team who could give her real, helpful advice.
Not Yoo Daon, for starters.
If Yoo Daon heard a problem, she'd probably just say, "I see! That's too bad!" and leave it at that, or maybe something like, "Should I kill them?" Nah, she wouldn't go that far.
Song Arin is out too.
She understands problems too well.
She wouldn't give advice—she'd solve it herself. Like if you fought with a friend, she'd go mess with their head one day.
"Hmm..."
That leaves Jang Chaeyeon and Eileen...
"Chaeyeon."
"Really? I thought you'd pick Eileen unnie or Song Arin unnie."
"Why not Daon?"
"...Hehe..."
Yeah. Don't say it.
I turn away from Park Ye-eun's awkward grin and speak up.
"Chaeyeon really keeps her mouth shut."
"She doesn't talk much."
"Not just that—she listens, gives a concise answer, and never spills."
She might not empathize much, though.
"What about Eileen unnie?"
"Eileen..."
She'd give good advice too. But...
"If you ask her, she'll hear you out. But I don't want you to have to do that."
"Why?"
"She'll keep it to herself."
She'd try to take responsibility.
Maybe she can't separate others from herself, or maybe she's just that nice. Either way, she'd handle it best.
"Anyway."
"So that's how you've seen us?"
I turn at the voice behind me.
Yoo Daon stands there pouting, Jang Chaeyeon with a subtle smile, and Song Arin glaring with her arms crossed.
"What about Eileen?"
"She said she'd just send a gift. What was it, something about an incident?"
The Response Team really has it rough.
"So."
"Huh?"
"Why the blank face?"
Song Arin strides over, arms still crossed.
"Why not me? Black hair means low social skills, white hair means too nice—so what am I?"
"..."
Say that to her face?
I think for a moment, then speak.
"Uh, well. Arin, you're young."
"You saying I can't hang with adults?"
"You are young."
"So you're saying you see me as a little sister, not person to person?"
"Have you finally lost it?"
I ignore Song Arin and look at the others.
"Did you bring gifts?"
"Yeah."
Jang Chaeyeon wiggles her fingers, and three huge boxes gently land at the apartment door.
"Fridge, AC, and washer, in that order."
"Unnies..."
Park Ye-eun looks at the three of them, eyes nearly tearing up.
"I'll serve you as unnies forever..."
"Age gap means we're your unnies for life."
Jang Chaeyeon smirks confidently, arms crossed.
*
"We don't have much, but eat up."
I suggested delivery, but Park Ye-eun insisted on cooking, so we all waited.
"Is it okay to eat food from a minor?"
"You like mooching off minors?"
"I was thinking it might violate labor laws."
Song Arin's extra prickly today.
I look away from her growling and glance at the kitchen.
"All done!"
Park Ye-eun hauls in a massive pot.
A massive pot?
"It's budae jjigae!"
"Budae jjigae...?"
Jang Chaeyeon mutters curiously, eyeing the stew.
Budae jjigae for a housewarming? Should we crack open some booze?
"We don't have much, but eat up!"
"Not much, but we'll dig in!"
Yoo Daon smiles and nods at Park Ye-eun's words, scoops up some stew, tastes it,
"Huh...?"
And her face turns puzzled.
"Good?"
"No, it's bad."
"Huh...?"
Yoo Daon shakes her head calmly at Song Arin's question, and Park Ye-eun goes pale.
"Daon...!"
Nothing she won't say to the kid.
I shoot Yoo Daon a scolding look, and she clamps her mouth shut.
"I-It tastes great! So good two could eat it and one dies without knowing—"
"Tastes bad."
"Bad."
Song Arin and Jang Chaeyeon chime in unison before Yoo Daon finishes, each after one bite.
"The seasoning's off. Kinda thick?"
"Did you forget the sugar and just put in gochujang?"
"Ah...!"
Park Ye-eun covers her mouth and yelps at Jang Chaeyeon's question.
What's the ah...! about.
No helping it. Even I should say something nice.
What's an adult for?
Say nice things to kids, plant dreams and hope.
Kids learn through trial and error. Adults watch warmly.
Thinking that, I scoop up some broth.
Thick, no sweetness, no umami.
"Wow. Really bad."
"Oppa..."
Park Ye-eun makes a sad face at my words.
"It's fine. Cooking's not easy. Everyone messes up at first."
"Oppa..."
"So let's order in."
"I'll do the dishes."
"No, I'll do them."
"Oppa!"
Jang Chaeyeon stands, and Park Ye-eun yells.
"I'll help. Arin and Daon, order food."
"Me and her? Damn, why me—"
"Chicken? This place looks good!"
"Idiot, that brand's pricey and skimpy. Gimme your phone."
I leave the bickering Song Arin and Yoo Daon, take Jang Chaeyeon and Park Ye-eun to the kitchen.
Chili powder everywhere, ham wrappers, veggie peels.
"...Did a war break out?"
"Uh..."
Jang Chaeyeon stares at the mess, then looks at Park Ye-eun, who bows her head.
"Sorry."
"No need to apologize."
Jang Chaeyeon rolls up her sleeves.
"I'll help clean. And keep it tidy when cooking. Makes eaters happier."
"Ah...! So unnie, what's the first thing you check when cooking?"
"Recipes."
"Ah...!"
"Don't go by feel. Follow it, and you're halfway there."
Jang Chaeyeon and Park Ye-eun chat excitedly while cleaning, and I start dishes in gloves.
"So unnie, any secret ingredient you always add? Like your special kick."
"Love and sincerity."
"Huh...?"
Jang Chaeyeon's teaching something weird again, but the water drowns it out.
"Don't play around—clean properly!"
"Don't worry."
"Ah, I got it!"
I finish dishes amid their replies.
Luckily, before delivery arrives.
*
After eating, Park Ye-eun grabs us leaving and insists we stay, so we're awkwardly sitting in the living room.
"When I was little, we'd all sleep on the floor mat on weekends as a family."
Park Ye-eun smiles happily, spreading blankets in the living room.
"I'd lie in the middle watching cartoons, Mom and Dad chattering beside me till they dozed off."
She finishes spreading them with a heave-ho.
"Knowing that day won't come back makes it hurt more."
Park Ye-eun mutters bitterly.
"..."
Suddenly, her father flashes in my mind.
The man who saved Park Ye-eun and stayed behind at Gangseo Hospital to die.
He got what he wanted, but his daughter still misses him.
My mouth opens on its own.
"...I suddenly wanna watch cartoons."
"Is that your consolation?"
Park Ye-eun teases, and I grab the remote and turn on the TV without answering.
A kiddie cartoon starts.
Bright colors fill the eyes, and the dark living room glows rainbow-hued with the TV on.
"Yeah. Kinda pulling me in too."
Song Arin leans my way, muttering.
"Yeah, me too."
Jang Chaeyeon too.
"..."
Yoo Daon as well.
We're all watching the cartoon on TV.
Leaving the center of the big spread-out blankets empty.
"..."
"What're you doing."
I turn to quietly sitting Park Ye-eun.
"Not watching?"
In the silence, Park Ye-eun looks at me.
What does she see?
Reliving the past, or seeing us now?
Doesn't matter much.
"...I'll watch."
With a choked voice, Park Ye-eun comes over and lies in the blanket center.
In the silence, cartoon characters chatter happily.
Park Ye-eun clutches the blanket edge up to her head.
The small bundled lump shakes like it's sobbing.
I watch, then turn to the TV.
Gone days don't return. Regret always comes late, leaving only longing.
But someday, that past will overlay with new memories.
And if those are happy ones, even better.
Night deepens, and we keep watching cartoons.
Until new memories form.